When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

We've all had that day: the one where you accidentally hit "Reply All" on an email intended for one or get rear-ended as you're backing out of the veterinary clinic where you've just spent your life savings to find out that the results on your cat's blood work are "inconclusive."

An eclectic crowd of fans patiently waited for the Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand to take the stage at the Fox Theater in Oakland. The room was packed with an audience whose ages ranged from teenagers to silver-haired grandparents. Everyone seemed to be as alert as possible at 9:30 on a Monday night in a dimly lit theater.

The band members came onstage in sporting different versions of black and white mod running suits, which all included tightly tailored pants and box-shouldered jackets. It felt like watching a postmodern version of the Monkees (or maybe the Beatles when they were 21), as rhythm guitarist and keyboard player Nick McCarthy bobbed his head and fervently strummed his guitar with a toothy grin. He also played with his guitar strapped high to the middle of his chest, like many vintage pop and mod British bands did in the '60s. McCarthy and lead singer Alex Kapranos seemed to actually enjoy playing the show, but bass player Bob Hardy sulked the entire night, looking distracted and distant as he plucked out his bass notes.

The band's setlist was a surprising grab bag, bouncing from one era and album to another. Franz Ferdinand performed the 2013 slow jam "Fresh Strawberries" right before moving into 2005's "Walk Away," keeping the audience guessing and enthusiastic as it danced and gyrated throughout most of the night.

The hour-long set scurried along as Kapranos' energy built a genuine connection with the audience. He took a moment early in the show to do a solo dance and PG-rated strip tease. The audience, of course, ate up the Scotsman's shameless pelvic thrusts as the band moved into "Can't Stop Feeling."

There were swelling EDM-style interludes and more than a moderate amount of simultaneous hand-clapping and arm-waving, which was mostly orchestrated by the band members themselves. Nonetheless, there was a shift in the mood of the show as McCarthy played an extended keyboard solo and Franz Ferdinand lurched into playing "Auf Achse," conjuring darker vibes. They quickly brought contrast to the mood, as Kapranos and McCarthy made their first attempt of the night to harmonize with each other vocally instead of sticking with their usual deadpan singing voices.

Franz Ferdinand fans finally experienced the moment they were anticipating when "Take Me Out" emerged with a slightly shaky start. The slow climax of the song was slightly awkward but redeemed itself -- and no matter what, the entire theater was going to go insane regardless of how well the song was played.

"Take Me Out" was positioned right in the middle of the show, with Franz Ferdinand performing a few more songs afterward. The energy stayed relatively high as "Sweet Flowers" was pumped up with a drum and bass interlude, and McCarthy switched from guitar to keys in the middle of the song. But the show began to feel long by the time the band got to its drug anthem, "Ulysses."

All in all, Franz Ferdinand kept its audience engaged, as Alex Kapranos was endearingly attentive throughout the show. But artistically, the saving grace of the night was the four man drum solo that happened after Hardy, the bass player, finally came out of his rock 'n' roll stupor to join the group in collectively banging on Paul Thompson's drum set.

The fiery drum solo lasted for about six minutes and included a bit of crowd participation. The band's showmanship swelled during those moments, giving the audience something to remember. Franz Ferdinand's encore included "Right Action" and "This Fire," leaving its sea of fans buzzing and satisfied.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"